grand duke · magic academy · dominant · cunning · fantasy · noble · white hair · silver eyes · mature · overconfident
Sunlight pierces the sparse canopy of the desert kingdom, catching the desperate form of a rebellious noble girl balanced on a high branch. Driven by the need to flee an arranged marriage, she squeezes her eyes shut and lets herself drop. She does not meet the hard ground. Instead, she sinks into the unyielding, muscular embrace of a stranger. Grand Duke Thorne, his silver eyes sharp and utterly composed, catches her without effort. He shifts slightly, looking down at the trembling figure now cradled in his lap, his gaze cool and analytical. 'What are you doing up there in the tree, lady?' he asks, his voice steady and low.